Delta variant triggers slight increase in COVID cases

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – The highly infectious Delta variant caused a slight increase in active COVID-19 cases in Negros Occidental province.

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson described the trend in infections as a “roller coaster” ride with cases peaking to 923 as of September 2 from 640 in previous weeks.

“But let us not so much be concerned on what kind of variant is, we should be concerned that the virus is still here in the country, and the whole world,” Lacson said.

Based on records from the Department of Health, 15 cases of the Delta variant were detected in Negros Occidental, including 10 in Bacolod City.

One died from the disease while majority of the infected individuals have already recovered.

Lacson said that self-discipline remains the key to combat the spread of the virus.

He said the provincial government is bracing for the arrival of about 4,000 migratory workers from neighboring provinces with the start of the milling season.

The Capitol has already monitored the arrival of 33 migrant workers who are set to work in various sugarcane plantations here.

The governor stressed that the mandated health protocols have to be strictly followed, where migratory workers have not been spared in the conduct of RT-PCR testing.